Tech distributor profiles

With many tech distributors on the market, it can be difficult for resellers to pinpoint the best supplier for their needs. Jade Burke rounds up some of the disties and looks at the products and services they’re offering customers…

ASH Distribution

Contact: 0191 418 3188, ashdistribution.co.uk

Ash Distribution is proud to have been supplying the IT trade sector nationwide since 1997.

The company has developed a broad range of customers including small to large PC retail outlets, networking companies and PC distributors. 

Its extensive range of over 1,300 products from more than 60 manufacturers covers everything from hardware products through to accessories and consumables featuring brands such as Gembird, BullGuard, JetPlay, ASRock, TP-LINK, Kingston, Philips, Microsoft and Sumvision to name but a few.

Ash Distribution says it is becoming increasingly recognised as the preferred-one-stop shop for its customers. 

Avnet

Contact: 01344 662 000, avnet.com

Avnet serves customers and suppliers in America, Asia, Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

With years of experience stretching back to 1921, Avnet has teams of sales, technical and marketing experts in various technology areas, including software, computer components and services. 

Its customers include system builders, system integrators, service providers and value-added resellers. The company says its position as an advisor to its customers is made possible by the choice offered through its IT portfolio. 

Caseking

Contact: 01782 444488, caseking.co.uk

Founded in Berlin in 2003, Caseking has grown to become a leading supplier of products for PC enthusiasts across Europe. 

Caseking has built a reputation as experts in chassis, modding, cooling, PC tuning and gaming. The distributor works closely with vendors on product design, marketing and channel management. The company says it can only be satisfied when its customers are completely satisfied. For this reason, Caseking has invested in expanding its product portfolio, but also in a massive expansion of storage facilities, up to date logistics and offices in The Netherlands, France and Poland. 

Centerprise

Contact: 01256 378071, centerprise.co.uk

Centerprise Distribution was originally created 20 years ago, as a division of Centerprise International, the Basingstoke-based IT solutions provider. 

The division specialises in the distribution of ruggedised hardware and has grown since its conception. A strong partnership with Panasonic has contributed to this success, making Centerprise Distribution one of the largest UK distributors of Panasonic Toughbooks and Toughpads.

Centerprise Distribution also supplies a range of rugged hardware, with various specifications, to IT resellers across the UK. 

CMS Distribution

Contact: 01423 704 700, cmsdistribution.com

CMS Distribution says it is the largest independent value-added distributor in the UK and Ireland today, and provides business and consumer solutions for each of its various customers. 

With more than 60 vendors within its portfolio, CMS offers a wide range of tech categories from hardware to software. The company works with various vendors, including Crucial, D-Link, Gigabyte, Piper, SanDisk and Synology. 

In late 2013, CMS Distribution acquired UK enterprise software distributor Interactive Ideas.

Computers Unlimited

Contact: 020 83 58 58 58, unlimited.com

Computers Unlimited (CU) says it is Europe’s number one distributor specialising in products and accessories for everything Apple, the digital home and creative professionals. 

Its portfolio includes products from over 70 leading manufacturers, such as Adobe, Epson, Griffin, Incipio, LocknCharge, MakerBot, Microsoft, Nemetschek, Parrot, Philips, Sonos and Wacom. CU’s exclusive offerings also include three in-house developed brands, all available globally. Founded in 1985, CU is headquartered in London, with operations in Paris and Barcelona.

In May, it became part of the Exertis distribution family. 

DirekTek

Contact: 01494 471100, direktek.co.uk 

Since its formation in 1991, DirekTek Ltd. says it has become Britain’s leading distributor of consumer electronics and digital imaging products, working with brands such as Canon, Sennheiser, Samsung and Sony. 

It says that it’s the essential business partner for any company planning to enter or grow their marketshare in this dynamic sector. DirekTek stocks a comprehensive product portfolio, and offers an extensive product range with bespoke bundles including a wide spread of accessories. There’s also a home delivery service available.

Entatech

Contact: 0333 101 1000, entaonline.com

Celebrating over 25 years in business, Entatech is one of the UK’s leading distributors of hardware, peripherals, systems and software. 

Enta currently partners with over 90 manufacturers, including Microsoft, Intel and Fujitsu, and boasts a portfolio of over 10,000 products. The firm also holds UK exclusivity with a number of vendors including Power Color, ZOTAC, Fractal Design and Swann. Entatech operates from two offices – it’s headquarters in Telford, Shropshire, and its dedicated sales office in Chessington.

Exertis

Contact: 01256 707070 (Exertis IT), 01279 822822 (Exertis Home), exertis.com

Exertis is one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing technology distribution and specialist service providers. 

It has partnered with 350 global technology brands and over 22,850 resellers and retailers across Europe. In its most recent financial year to March 31st 2015, Exertis had a turnover of £2.4 billion. The company’s scale, knowledge and experience in the technology sector and complete end-to-end product portfolio, enables it to deliver solutions and services for its partners, across supply chain services, sales and distribution, marketing, PR and digital services.

Ingram Micro

Contact: 0871 973 3940, uk.ingrammicro.com

The company’s UK operations have been established for over 20 years since opening in 1991, with its head office in Milton Keynes.

There are also offices in Maidenhead and at the purpose built 244,000sq ft distribution centre in Crick, Northamptonshire. 

Ingram Micro employs over 400 associates providing over 10,000 resellers, working with the leading IT vendors, including Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Motorola and Nokia to name a few, with more than 40,000 product lines complemented by comprehensive value added services.

M2m Direct

Contact: 0208 676 6067, M2M-direct.co.uk

M2M was founded in 1998 as a specialist memory and storage distributor working directly with world-class manufacturers and suppliers such as Samsung Semi-Conductor and Samsung Electronics, Micron Electronics (Crucial Technology and Lexar) and SK Hynix. 

The distributor also boasts a compressive product line, including memory modules, portable media, solid state drives, hard drives, optical drives, processors, graphics cards, flash memory drives and enterprise server products.

Mentor Distribution

Contact: 01462 814000, mentor-distribution.com

Since 1991, Mentor Distribution has been a trade-only distributor of IT and AV equipment. 

The company stocks various manufacturers’ products, including NEC, Iiyama, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, ASUS, Chief, 3M, PresTop, Humanscale, Quanta, AG Neovo and Lumio. 

In recent years, the firm has expanded into manufacturing its own touchscreens and fully integrated privacy monitors. 

Mentor Distribution also offers additional services such as logo printing and spraying bezels to its customers’ requirements.

Midwich

Contact: 01379 649 200, midwich.com

With over 35 years of industry expertise supplying solutions to the document solutions, IT industry, AV and security market, Midwich says it is constantly riding the wave of new technology and innovation. 

The company’s knowledge, passion and systems are geared towards helping customers with whatever project they are 

working on. Midwich also says it understands customers, their projects and goals – and wants to hear how best it can help you.

Northamber

Contact: 0208 296 7066, northamber.com

Northamber is the UK’s longest established independent trade-only distributor in the UK, founded 35 years ago. 

Today, Northamber is AIM listed and has over £22 million in net assets, with no debt and is one of the largest IT trade disties, with over 5,500 actively trading resellers.

It has a custom-built 20,000 sq ft head office in Chessington, which is home to over 60 sales and support staff, backed by customer-focused purchasing, credit service, commercial web, product management and marketing teams. It also has a £6.5 million 100,000 sq ft warehouse, logistics and technology centre in Weybridge. 98.8 per cent of orders are delivered the next working day.

It offers access to marketing materials such as e-shots and catalogues, flexible credit, third party logistics and warehousing, pre- and post-sales support and end user technical support.

Peak Development

Contact: 01489 796979, peak-uk.com

Peak Development has been established for over 20 years with a trusted reputation in the distribution of high quality accessories. 

The distributor deals with a focused range of vendors from global brands such as SanDisk, Sony and Sennheiser, to niche brands like wearables specialist Lifetrak and its value range from Bitmore. 

“What really makes us different? We work hard to give our retailers every opportunity to make the most of each of our brands,” Peak says in a statement.

“We don’t deal with hundreds and hundreds of vendors, so each brand gets real focus and each customer gets to deal with a genuine brand specialist.” 

Spire Technology

Contact: 01202 828444, spire.co.uk 

Established in 1990, Spire Technology Ltd has seen steady growth in the field of trade-only computer distribution. 

The firm says its unrivalled commitment to the UK IT channel and focus on its customers’ needs has made it one of the UK’s leading distributors of computer components, peripherals and consumer electronic products.

Spire’s portfolio currently stands at more than 1,500 products from over 30 vendors including ASUS, TP-LINK, BullGuard, BeQuiet! and Cougar to name a few. 

Spire says in a statement: “With this mix of quality, reliability and price, Spire Technology should be your one-stop shop for all your IT needs.” 

PXS Distribution

Contact: 0844 879 4212, pxsdistribution.co.uk

PXS Distribution is a value added distributor that has seen significant growth as a key security provider to its resellers. 

The firm says it adds value by actively engaging with its reseller channel, through direct communications by its trained and motivated sales team. 

The distributor acts as a key channel supplier of ESD products via its newly launched Reseller Portal, which includes renewal revenue on the full range of security products offered. PXS says this means resellers are no longer bound to a single security vendor, giving consumers greater choice in the market.

Smithie

Contact: 01256 844028, smithieuk.com

Established in April 2003, Smithie UK operates in Basingstoke, where its 20,000sq ft on-site warehouse, logistics, sales and RMA facility is based. 

The company has around 25 employees, who have helped to grow the company’s client base. 

Smithie says it is proud to be a brand-dedicated distributor, purely selling the latest and best products available in the market, and says it has become one of the largest storage distributors in the UK 

and Europe.

Target Components

Contact: 01977 739 300, targetcomponents.co.uk

Since Target’s launch in 1998, the company says it has developed supplier relationships ranging from the world’s leading technology brands to direct factory relationships in the Far East and elsewhere, and established a worldwide supply network. 

The distributor has a wide and varied range of over 10,000 product lines, from cables and laptop parts to servers and networking products. Plus, the company also offers a dedicated business advice website called ShopTalk, which offers business advice, blogs and articles, discussion topics, useful links and a forum to share best practice.

Tech Data

Contact: 01256 788 000, techdata.co.uk

Tech Data says it offers its customers specialist support in key areas of the market, underpinned by exceptional product choice with more than 30,000 stock items from over 150 manufacturers available for next-day delivery. 

Its vendor portfolio covers a wide range of technology across AV, components, consumer electronics, enterprise, mobile, networking, PC systems, print, software and supplies. 

The firm says businesses rely on Tech Data and its collection of specialists to provide sales and technical advice – and to deliver the products they need to meet their customers’ requirements.

VIP Computers

Contact: 0871 622 7500, vip-computers.com/uk

Based in Warrington, VIP is one of the UK’s largest independent distributors of PC components, gaming peripherals and IT products.

The company says is has been at the heart of the IT distribution channel for 25 years, and its company motto of ‘Delivering Value in Distribution’ emphasises its focus on adding value across each and every stage of the order process.VIP’s portfolio is packed with a wide range vendors including AMD, AOC, ASUS, BenQ, Corsair, EVGA, Gigabyte, Intel, MSI, Nvidia, Palit, Razer and Sapphire, amongst others.

The firm also says that it is one of the UK’s leading PC gaming hardware distributors with some of the best known gaming hardware brands amongst its line-up. 

Westcoast

Contact: 0118 912 6000, westcoast.co.uk

Westcoast Limited was founded in 1984 and says its core value is its passion for the industry and customers that it services within it.

The company also says it prides itself on delivering the best possible results for all of its stakeholders, including customers, vendors, shareholders, employees, environment, community and industry. Through the hard work and dedication of all at Westcoast, the distributor says it’s consistently ranked in the Sunday Times Top track list of 100 largest privately owned UK companies.

Westcoast has also been ranked tenth in a list of the fastest growing private companies in Europe according to Europe 500.